New Jersey's Department of Labor and Workforce Development announced a Notice of Grant Opportunity on September 28, 2026 for Round 1 of its Fiscal Year 2027 Growing Apprenticeships in Nontraditional Sectors (GAINS) program. Funding is up to $6 million and is contingent on available funds. The application window is still open: letters of intent are due by noon on Friday, November 27, 2026, and applications by noon on Friday, December 4, 2026. Technical assistance workshops are scheduled for Thursday, October 22 and Tuesday, November 10, 2026, both at 1 pm. GAINS supports new Registered Apprenticeship programs, or existing programs expanding into new USDOL-approved occupations. Funds can reimburse employers for up to 50% of a new apprentice's hourly wage, for no more than 40 hours a week and no longer than 52 work weeks, with a cap of $12,000 per apprentice. The incentive applies only to apprentices registered after the contract period begins and employed full-time unless otherwise approved. To be eligible, each apprentice's starting wage cannot be below $18.00 an hour, and all participants must be New Jersey residents. Employers must have a New Jersey presence. The notice allows exceptions to the wage or full-time rule only in rare cases and with justification. Apprentices may not be charged fees, tuition, materials costs or other expenses for the program. The contract period is expected to run February 1, 2027 to July 31, 2028, paid on a cost-reimbursement basis. Awards are contingent on authorization and fund availability, and final amounts are set by NJDOL. Read the full notice for the program design, related technical instruction and budget requirements before applying.